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does anyone know anything about road/commuter bikes?

sweet adelinesweet adeline Posts: 2,191
edited May 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
i wanted to start riding my bike to work and am looking for some recommendations for a good bike. my commute is about 20 miles round trip, and i'm looking to spend a max of $1,500.

a couple bikes i'm considering:
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/road/fx/76fx
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/urban/sport_urban/su20/

any feedback is appreciated.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • senninsennin Posts: 2,146
    I'm a huge fan of Felt bikes....so I always plug them!

    http://www.feltracing.com

    The best bikes on the road....and dirt!


    Oh, I really like the Bianchi San Mateo too....I road one last year....great bike....maybe I'll take to the roads one day, I spent alot of years playing in the dirt.
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    i have a novara hybrid. in the spring/summer i usually do @3 15-20 mile rides/week and one 30-50 mile ride. i've had it for three years and have never had a flat tire or any kind of chain or maintenance issues.

    i'd like to upgrade to more of a road bike because i do that 70 mile ride once/year and it's kind of killer for that... but for the shorter rides it's perfect, especially since a lot of the path i'm on is not paved.

    it was only $400, but it is kind of heavy. if i can lug it up three flights of steps, though, you should be good. :)

    http://www.rei.com/product/760869
  • CorsoCorso so poor I can't afford to comment on the PJ forum Posts: 201
    edited February 2012
    sweet adeline wrote:
    i wanted to start riding my bike to work and am looking for some recommendations for a good bike. my commute is about 20 miles round trip, and i'm looking to spend a max of $1,500.

    a couple bikes i'm considering:
    http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/road/fx/76fx
    http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/urban/sport_urban/su20/

    any feedback is appreciated.[/quote :|
    Post edited by Corso on
  • spongersponger Posts: 3,159
    I would go with the one that had disc brakes. I believe that was the "urban" bike.
    reigning champion

    http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=272825
  • kh65kh65 Posts: 946
    sweet adeline wrote:
    i wanted to start riding my bike to work and am looking for some recommendations for a good bike. my commute is about 20 miles round trip, and i'm looking to spend a max of $1,500.

    a couple bikes i'm considering:
    http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/road/fx/76fx
    http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/urban/sport_urban/su20/

    any feedback is appreciated.

    Please for the sake of your co-workers (and your career) make sure you can take a shower when you get to your job.
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  • eyedclaareyedclaar Posts: 6,980
    Corso wrote:
    The Trek 7.6 FX is a nice bike. I have experience riding them and selling them as well. Lightweight with carbon seat stays and partial carbon forks and a good wheel set which will help in damping road vibration for your commutes. Put some fenders and a rack on this machine and your ready. Also nine speeds is good if you have hills in your area. However if your area is flat check out the Soho S by Trek it is a single speed or the Cannondale Capo. Low maintenance and is good for urban riding/commutes.
    Felt is also a great company. Check out the FELTX:City, FELT: Dispatch. Also check out Specialized:Globe City, Gary Fisher: Pavement/Urban series of bikes. You may want to consider a road bike with drop down handlebars. For example a road bike by Trek called the Portland or a similar bike that will give you a different feel and fit then these others mentioned. Or you can have your shop custom build a bike for you. Great alternative company's that make bike frames are Surly and Hunter just to name a few. The cost will be greater if you choose this route. One more tip. Puncture resistant tires are great for commuting.
    Go to your local bike shop and test ride a few of these bikes. Many bikes of the same style will feel and fit different so test a few of them. Stick with a 700c wheel size.
    cheers
    ;)

    I have a Gary Fisher hybrid mountainbike/10 speed kind of dealy. Not real up to date on biking technical terms or anything, but it kicks ass for sure. I ride it all the time.
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  • brainofPJbrainofPJ Posts: 2,361
    if you're just riding to work, i see no reason to spend a lot of money.

    Specialized usually has decent prices.

    check every local bike shop...i got a good deal on my Specialized a couple years back.


    Esther's here and she's sick?

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  • sweet adelinesweet adeline Posts: 2,191
    thanks for the advice everyone. i'm going to check some out after work today.

    and yes, there are showers at my office so that will be good for my co-workers.
  • CobbelstoneCobbelstone Posts: 35
    It depends on the terrain of your trip and other trips you will want to be taking.

    The Urban *looks* very heavy, that should be a consideration.

    The "Road" (not sure why it's called that, seems like a hybrid), looks like it may be a little better suited for a 20 mile trip.

    Both are sturdy-looking hybrids, which I personally prefer for commuting, urban riding, but that is a personal call. I like the flat handle bars- I would advise against a more "comfort" set-up with higher handle bars.

    A lot of bike makers (Bianchi comes to mind) make "true commuter" bikes. These bikes look more like a touring road bike with skinnier tires and drop handle bars. But they also usually come with racks and fenders. This might be something else to consider.

    *I also wanted to add that you shouldn't have to pay $1500 for a good hybrid for commuting. $700 will get you a really good one, and you can go as low as like $450 for a decent one.

    All in all I say go to a GOOD bike shop and try stuff out. Bikes that look good online may not be "for you" when you actually hop on. Plus, you can really compare different types, brands, and sizes. There may be brands that you didn't think of perviously, and the salespeople can give you advice based on the type of riding you'll be doing.
  • FoxwellFoxwell Posts: 142
    I don't have much to add as far as bicycles are concerned (I commuted to work for nearly five years on a Bianchi hybrid), but I'm always pleased to hear when another commuter is born.

    Another tip for the commuter, besides the mandatory shower: I would drive to work on Mondays with a week's worth of work clothes so I wouldn't have to worry about wrinkling them on the ride.

    Ride on.
    "In the depths of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." -- Albert Camus

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  • sweet adelinesweet adeline Posts: 2,191
    Foxwell wrote:
    I don't have much to add as far as bicycles are concerned (I commuted to work for nearly five years on a Bianchi hybrid), but I'm always pleased to hear when another commuter is born.

    Another tip for the commuter, besides the mandatory shower: I would drive to work on Mondays with a week's worth of work clothes so I wouldn't have to worry about wrinkling them on the ride.

    Ride on.

    excellent bit of advice, thanks.
  • sweet adelinesweet adeline Posts: 2,191
    Cobbelstone wrote:
    It depends on the terrain of your trip and other trips you will want to be taking.

    The Urban *looks* very heavy, that should be a consideration.

    The "Road" (not sure why it's called that, seems like a hybrid), looks like it may be a little better suited for a 20 mile trip.

    Both are sturdy-looking hybrids, which I personally prefer for commuting, urban riding, but that is a personal call. I like the flat handle bars- I would advise against a more "comfort" set-up with higher handle bars.

    A lot of bike makers (Bianchi comes to mind) make "true commuter" bikes. These bikes look more like a touring road bike with skinnier tires and drop handle bars. But they also usually come with racks and fenders. This might be something else to consider.

    *I also wanted to add that you shouldn't have to pay $1500 for a good hybrid for commuting. $700 will get you a really good one, and you can go as low as like $450 for a decent one.

    All in all I say go to a GOOD bike shop and try stuff out. Bikes that look good online may not be "for you" when you actually hop on. Plus, you can really compare different types, brands, and sizes. There may be brands that you didn't think of perviously, and the salespeople can give you advice based on the type of riding you'll be doing.

    thanks for the advice, its much appreciated. i agree with you regarding the price, i've found a few nice ones in the $600 - $800 range.
  • lksammktlksammkt Posts: 127
    I am getting ready to buy a road bike. It seems like everyone in Sacramento rides to work. I am getting fitted this weekend. Honestly it is one of the best workouts I have ever had.
    I just keep moving on....
  • rival.rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
    awesome idea... which i could ride to work. but what do you do when you show up smelling like you just road a bike 10 miles on a summer morning?
  • spongersponger Posts: 3,159
    Just remember that the only reason why some of those expensive bikes don't have disc brakes is because they're still being designed to be ultra-light even though they're still just commuter bikes.

    Disc brakes are by far a better braking system than standard against-the-rim brake calipers. Not only do they give you better stopping power, but they also prevent damage to the rims that standard brakes might cause under certain conditions.

    Unless you are going for the ultra-light set-up, which really should not be a concern for a commuter bike, just be sure to get disc brakes.

    Avoid hydraulic brakes, as those require more maintenance in the long run in spite of having more responsiveness than non-hydraulic disc brakes.
    reigning champion

    http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=272825
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